Evaluation of the enhanced meningitis surveillance system, Yendi municipality, northern Ghana, 2010–2015

BMC Infectious Diseases

Research Article

Kofi Mensah Nyarko¹  Basil Benduri Kaburi¹  Ernest Kenu¹  Edwin Andrew Afari¹  Samuel Oko Sackey¹  Chrysantus Kubio²  Jacob Yakubu Mahama³ 

[1] Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Programme, Department of Epidemiology and Disease Control, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana;Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Programme, Department of Epidemiology and Disease Control, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana;Ghana Health Service, West Gonja District Health Directorate, Damongo, Ghana;Ghana Health Service, Northern Regional Health Directorate, Tamale, Ghana;

关键词: Meningitis;    Epidemics;    Surveillance;    Evaluation;    Yendi;    Ghana;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12879-017-2410-0

 received in 2016-11-19, accepted in 2017-04-19,  发布年份 2017

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundMeningitis is the inflammation of the meninges of the brain and or spinal cord. Global mortality rates vary from 2% to 30%. Epidemic meningitis remains a public health concern along the meningitis belt of Africa. Despite the operation of an enhanced meningitis surveillance system in Ghana, institutional mortality rates are estimated to range from 36% to 50%. In 2014, Yendi recorded 83 confirmed cases; with focal epidemics in some sub-municipals. We evaluated the system over a five-year period to find out whether it was achieving its objectives of systematic collection and analyses of data for the prevention or early detection of meningitis epidemics.MethodsWe used cross-sectional design. Both qualitative and quantitative data from Yendi Municipality between January 2010 and December 2015 were collected and analyzed. The updated guidelines for evaluating surveillance systems from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention were used. Content analysis was performed on the responses of key informants. Surveillance data was analyzed using MS-Excel.ResultsFifteen healthcare workers were interviewed. For the period under evaluation, the annual incidence of meningitis ranged from 1.6/100,000 in 2012 to 62.6/100,000 in 2014. The average case fatality rate for the period was 8.3%. The system was sensitive, representative, and acceptable. The predictive value positive was 100% from 2010 to 2014 and 63.3% in 2015. Data quality was good, but timeliness of reporting was poor.ConclusionsThe enhanced meningitis surveillance system in Yendi Municipality is achieving most of its objectives. However, financial constraints and poor personnel motivation pose threats to the sustainability of the system.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© The Author(s). 2017